Joint Replacement Surgery

Orthopedic Surgical Treatments for Knees, Hips, Shoulders, and More

Joint replacement is typically offered for patients who are experiencing arthritic pain or have a damaged joint. The most common reason to have a joint replacement surgery is to relieve severe arthritis pain that is limiting your activities. Total joint replacement is considered when you have tried and failed more conservative treatments yet continue to have significant pain, stiffness or problems with the function of your hip, knee, shoulder and/or other joints.

When To Consider Surgery

You should consider having joint replacement surgery when everyday tasks are painful and the pain is intolerable, preventing you from sleeping well, or when you have a joint deformity. When non-surgical treatments don’t work and the inflammation, swelling and stiffness do not improve with rest and medication, it may be time to consider surgery.

The symptoms for joint replacement are similar to the symptoms of arthritis. The main complaint is pain that also includes stiffness. There can be pain with activity and often it is clicking in the joint.

Arthritis is a key component in the decision to have joint replacement surgery. Arthritis is often genetic but not completely. Certain activities, occupations and injuries – such as a car wreck – can cause dramatic arthritic changes.

Total Knee Replacement

Total Hip Replacement

Hip Resurfacing

Shoulder Replacement

Arthoscopy of the Shoulder, Knew or Wrist

Other Options

When dealing with an arthritic joint, non-surgical options include steroid injections that can improve symptoms. Sometimes arthroscopic surgery will work, especially if the patient has other problems in addition to arthritis – such as a meniscal tear, loose bodies or other abnormalities of the joint. Arthroscopic surgery can help alleviate those symptoms, but it’s not a fix for the arthritis. This will simply reduce the patient’s symptoms and potentially delay the need for a replacement. There are some herbal supplements that have also been researched to improve symptoms and delay or prevent surgery.

Preventing Arthritis

The most common way to help prevent arthritis is to stay active and do more low impact activity. This includes cycling, elliptical, swimming and trying to stay away from high impact activities, especially if you’re prone to arthritis and know you have both a family history and a high risk of arthritis. Losing weight can also help prevent arthritis.

Make an Appointment with Bienville Ortho

To see an orthopedic specialist about your care and to determine if surgery or other treatment is right for you, call for an appointment with a Bienville Orthopedic physician.

They have offices in Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Gulfport and Lucedale. Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists perform surgeries for Singing River Health System at both Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospital.